ENGLISHIf you wanna be simplistic (and sometimes is just fine), you could divide the whole automotive industry into two categories: the vehicles created for a specific purpose and the multivalent vehicles (i.e. vehicles with more than one purpose in mind)... You couldn’t be more simplistic than that, but it lets you appreciate better, the complexity involved in such categories...

A popular saying says that: "the need is the mother of all the inventions" and that’s the reason why most of the automobiles you can see or have a reference, are contained in the first category.

If you have a clear need on the table, when you’re about to develop a car (or anything else, for that matter), like with the vehicles for a specific purpose; the process is more fluid, the outcome faster, the marketing and sales easier (albeit, is not always that way, I must say... But at least, it’s a safer bet)...

The multivalent vehicles, on the other hand, are always a risky bet; they are created to brake the mold, change mindsets and make people’s life simpler or more interesting and I guess you already know that, we are reluctant to "think out of the box"...

This is what we can say about a singular typology of vehicles, with roots deeper than you think: the MPVs or Multi-Purpose Vehicles.

When I say deeper roots, I mean it, because despite appearances, the MPVs (also known as Minivans) are a kinda old idea, with different approaches over time, that began back in the 30’s decade, more precisely represented by the 1936 Stout Scarab.

By the way, the Scarab, being a quite innovative idea for that time, never exceeded the prototype stage and only 9 units is known to have been produced; probably the reason for that, was the final price of US$ 5,000, a fortune in those days (just remember, the Great Depression was in force)...

There were other ancestors for this concept and maybe in future publications, i will expand this topic, in order to understand better the MPV phenomenon.

However, I can mention a more recent and direct precedent that, just like the Stout, was only a concept car, never mass produced and it was introduced in the 1978 Turin Motor Show: the Lancia Megagamma.

Truth is that perhaps, it was not the right time to develop these pioneering ideas and the automotive market use to be rude; but in the 90s, the world was mature enough to embrace the concept of a multivalent vehicle and in 1996, the Renault Mégane Scénic was released.

This vehicle was built on the platform of the Renault Mégane Hatchback and was the counterpart of a bigger and older model of this brand: the Renault Espace.

The 2000 Renault Scénic RX4 2.0 L 16V is a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), that belongs to the first generation of the model (1996-2003) and shows its noticeable first facelift.

For that time, the Scénic was already a separate model from the Mégane line and was quite successful; in fact, much more than the most daring predictions of Renault.

The RX4 was the four-wheel drive version of the Scénic and was produced until 2003. It has an electronic viscous multidisc central differential, developed by Steyr Daimler Puch, a company from Austria and it was basically a part-time device (not an off-road in all the sense of the word).

The ground clearance was better than in the regular Scénic, thanks to the higher/strengthened suspensions and the larger wheels, while plastic panels all around and the spare tire placed on the rear hatch, gave it a more rugged look.

The powerplant was a 122 cu in, 2.0 L Inline 4 16V F4R petrol engine, rated at 140 hp and coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission so, i think is an amusing option in this segment, for sure !!!...

Very few times I have the chance to get a vehicle available in the local market of my country (Colombia) or at least something similar, in the form of a scale model, but this time I was fortunate to get this diecast for my collection.

Actually, this specific model (the 2000 Renault Scénic RX4) was not offered by the local Renault dealerships, but the regular Scénic, along with the Scénic Sportway 1.6 L, were part of their portfolio so, this 1:43 scale model by Universal Hobbies, was a rational choice for me.

The chassis is plastic, with touches of silver paint, as well as the lower part of the body (which features a nice flat finishing), while the upper body is diecast and received a fine warm gray metallic paint job, along with careful tampos.

Special mention deserves the work on the plastic inserts for the head and tail lights; there is a mix of textures, low/bass reliefs and tampos, that improve the realism quite a bit.

The interiors in grey are well detailed and received touches of black paint, there are plastic inserts for the rearview side mirrors, an antenna on the top, the cover for the spare wheel, the wipers and the bumper guard.

Finally, the wheels are multipart with sporty silver rims and styled rubber tires, also it looks like the spare wheel is complete; as usual, an acrylic display case, with the name of the model printed in silver, on the black base, is part of the extras and it was made in China.

Pro 12:5-7 "The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand."... =)

2 comments:

Renault is one European car brand of my liking. Always like their simplicity yet innovative style. I luv MPV cos its really practical for that I have 3 kiddos. The car that catered to big family. This diecast sure is well made and look very real. It even shows the car plate. Even undercarriage painted and rubber tires. Wow and bonus stand and acrylic box. Truly collectible...

i think that now Renault must be more familiar in the asian countries, thanks to the kinda recent merger of Renault and Nissan, which made the Renault vehicles available there, either with Renault or Nissan badge... this MPV is definitely a product aimed to the family, with enough room for 5 adults and limited offroad capabilities, within the size of a regular sedan... Universal Hobbies has earned my respect, producing quality collectibles with a reasonable price tag... it makes affordable to get models you can see here in my country and that’s a big plus for me !!!... =D

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